Lock



Oct. 15, 1929. G. H. STERLING 1,731,508

LOCK

Filed Feb. 15 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Get. l5, i929 ATE-NT OFFICE LOCK . Application filed February 15, 192 Serial No. 254,336.

This invention relates to locks oi various types, and particularly to locks or the well known pad lock type.

lt further relates to novel 'improvements on Patent No. 1,520,975 entitled Padlock and issued to me on December 30,V 1921i.

lt is the object of this invention to provide a simple and cheaply constructed lock including a novel structure requiring a certain key formation to open the lock, which structure can be simply and easily changed for various locks to require diiierent key `torinations without necessitating any changes in the construction of the parts making np the lock.

To thisend, the invention consists in the novel parts and novel combinations oic parts hereinafter deiined in the claims, and described in the following specification made in connection with the accompanying drawino-s, wherein like reference characters re'ier to the same or similar par-'s throughout the various views and, in which,

Fig. l is a plan viewot a lock embodying iny invention, the top plate oi the casing being removed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the top plate for the casing;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken Von the line 3 3 otFig. l, as is indicated by the arrows, and illustrating the parts in locked position; y f

Fig. l is a view similar to 3, bnt show ing the parts in unlocked position;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 ot 3, as is indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6 6 or" Fig. 4, as is indicated by the arrows;

F 7 is a perspective view illustrating a yoke holding member;

Fig. 8 is a vertical. section taken on the line 8 of Fig. 7, as is indicated by the arrows; TEig. 9 is a view in side elevation or" a locking member used, with an lai-shaped plate app"`ed thereto;

sie'. l() is a vertical section taken on the line lO-lO of Fig. 9, as is indicated yby the arrows;

Figs. 11,12

and 13 are perspective views respectively illustrating a spacing plate, a thick ward plate and a thin ward plate;

Fig. 14 is a perspective View illustrating a cam lever;

F ig. l5 is a view in side elevation illustrating a cam lever guide plate;

16 is a section taken on the line 16-46 of Fig. l5, as is indicated by the arrows;

Fig. j? is a view in side elevation of a key abutment plate;

F ig. 18 is a view taken on the line 18-18 ci Fig. li', as is indicated by the arrows;

i9 is a view in front elevation of a key plate and Fig. 2O is a section taken on the line 20-#20 ot Fig. i9, as is indicated by the arrows.

vReferring to the drawings, a casing 2l is provided at its rear or lock manipulating end, with rectangular portion within which a substantially rectangular chamber 21a is formed. Projecting forwardly and in opposite directions from the rectangular portion oi' the casing are two a 1ins 2lb forming a portion of a circle and having an arcuate shackle passage 2lC extending therethrough, the bow passage extending through the forward end of the chamber 2la but being of considerably less diameter in cross section than the height of tho chamber 21a. Inwardly projecting shoulders 21d are formed adjacent the forward end of the chamber 2lLL for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The casing 2l is formed from two sections, one section being provided with flanges 2le at its edges, and the other section being provided with flanges 2lf at its edges, which are turned over the edges of the lianges 2le and pressed downwardly above the flanges 2le under great pressure, to forml an exceedingly strong cas-Y ing. At its rearend, the casing is provided with. a circular key plate opening 21g, and the material forming the casing is slightly rearwardly pressed adjacent the opening tor recaption ci a key plate 22, provided with a flange at its forward side bearing against the walls of the casing adjacent the opening 21g, and having a key slot 22LL formed therein, of any desired shape, tor determining the shape of the shank of a key 23 adapted to be used and the shank oi which is adapted to be insorted through the key way 22a into the chamber 21a. A ring shaped shackle member 24 is preferably provided which fits wit-hin the shackle passage 21C for sliding movement therein. rllhe shackle member 24 forms almost a complete ring, but has ends spaced a short distance apart to form shoulders adapted to be placed one at either side of the chamber 2la when the parts are in locked position, as is illustrated in Figs. l, 3 and 5. lt will be understood that various types of casings and shackle members may be provided, it being only essential that the casing have a chamber therein, a shackle passage extending through the chamber and a shackle member provided with spaced shoulders adapted to be placed when the shackle member is in one position, so that the shoulders are disposed at the sides of the chamber in the casing.

A right angularly bent Etl-shaped yoke is fitted within the chamber 2l:L of the casing.l so that the base of the lj is disposed at the rear end of the chamber to abut the rear wall thereof and the forward end of the key plate 22, while the arms of the ll are disposed at the top and bottom of the chamber so that they closely abut the top and bottom walls of the chamber and so that their side edges closely abut the side walls of the chamber and the forward edges of the arm abut the downwardly offset shoulders 21d. lt will thus be seen that the yoke will be securely held within the chamber 2ln and will be capable of but slight, if any, movement therein. rl`he rear portion of the yoke, i. e. the base portion of the U forming the yoke, is provided with a keyway 25 substantially alined with the keyway 22@L in keyplate 22, and of substantially circular shape. In the form illust-rated, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the keyway 25a consists of two slightly offset joining quadrants of a circle cut out from the rear end of the yoke, there being right angle shoulders 25b provided which act as stops to limit turning movement of a key inserted through the keyway to movement through a 900 angle. lf desired, other types of key openings may be formed in the yoke 25. rlhe arn f the yoke are provided with alined rectangular apertures 25B, and a key abutment plate 26, of a width corree sponding to the Width of the apertures 25", extends between the arms of the yoke through the apertures 25e and has forwardly pressed tabs 26 projecting therefrom, which abut the inner sides of the forward ends of the arms of the yoke. The key abutment plate acts to hold the forward ends of the arms of the yoke in braced spaced relationship, and is provided with a cent al aperture 26') within which the forward rounded end 23EL of key 23 is adapted to `.fit when the key is fully inserted within the lock. A U-shaped spring plate locking member 2'? is provided and rectangular alined apertures 27a are provided in the spring arms of. .the locking member, which entendv from adjacent the forward ends of the arms rearwardly through the locking member. An Erl-shaped plate 28 has the inner edges of its projecting arms 28a abutting the outer sides of the rear ends of the arms of the locking member, and is provided with projecting central tabs 28b which bear against the outer side of the rear end of the locking member, i. e. the base of the U forming the locking member. A central key opening 28c is also provided in the H-shaped plate. The locking member 27 and icl-shaped plate 28 are disposed in chamber 2l, so that the rear side of the irl-shaped plate and rear side of the base of the U of the locking member abut the forward side of the rear end of the yoke 25, while the outer side edges of the U plate abut the inner sides of the rear ends of the arms of the yoke 25. Accordingly, when the locking member is in normal position, the arms thereof will extend between the arms of the yoke 25, the arms of the locking member' will be spaced from each other and, as the tl of the locking member is much narrower than the U of the yoke, the arms of the locking member willkextend in spaced substantially parallel relation with the arms of the yoke. The arms of the locking member are considerably greater in length than the arms of the yoke member, so that their forward ends will normally project forwardly beyond the yoke member into the passage 2lC between the shoulders of the shackle member 24, when the shackle member is disposed as shown in Fig. l. In this position, the side edges of the forward ends of the arms of the locking member will abut the shoulders of the shackle member to prevent sliding movement thereof through the passage 2l, thus locking the shackle member in place. rlhe rectangular apertures 27a in the locking member are Vof such size that they will be alined with the rectangular apertures 25c in the yoke member, so that abutment plate 26 will extend between and through the arms of the locking member without striking the same.

A plurality of rectangular comparatively wide ward plates 29 are provided which are mounted within the apertures 25c of the yoke, and extend between the arms of the yoke. The ward plates are provided with ward openings 29@ for determining` the formation of ward notches 23b on the sides of the shank of the key 28. A plurality of comparatively wide spacing plates 30 are mounted within the apertures 25C and extend between the arms of the yoke and have circular key openings CL therethrough. The relative position of the ward andspacing plates 29 and 30 determine the position that the ward notches 28b will take on the shank of the key 23. It will be readily seen that variousrkey formations will be required when the ward and spacing plates are disposed in various arrangements relative -to eachother. ItV will also be lio vf; ward opening 32a.

clearly seen that the number of ward plates relative tothe'number of spacing plates may be varied, so as to still further vary the possibilities ot the key formation.

Disposed between certain of the ward and spacing plates, and mounted in the apertures 25C to project between the arms of the yoke, are two cam lever guide plates 3l and a thin ward plate 32. Circular' key openings 3la are provided through each ot the guide plates 3l, while a ward opening 32a is provided with in the narrow ward plate'32 and corresponding narrow ward notches 23c are provided in the sides of the shank of key 23 to lit the @ne of the guide plates 31 abut each side of the thin ward plate 32 and both guide plates are provided with Oil# set portions 31b to form channels between the thin ward plate 32 and the guide plates 3l, one at one side of the ward plate and below the center thereof, and the other at the other side of' the thin ward plate and above the center thereof. A cam lever 33 fits within each ot the said channels, is ot narrow width and l..l-shaped and hasprojecting arms 33a which extend outwardly :trom the sidesoitjthe guides 3l and thin ward plate 32, and between the arms of the locking member 27. rllhe cam levers are so disposed that their central portions will project partially into the keyway iormed bythe substantially alined openings 25a, 23C, 29, 30a, 31a, and 32a. The shank of the key 23 will be so formed'adjacent the narrow ward notches 23C that right angle shoulders 23"'x will be provided outwardly from the inner ends of the notches and at either side thereof, which are adapted to enthe cam levers rl`he rear endof the locking member 27, the H-shaped plate 28, the ward plates 29, the spacing plates 30, the guide plates 3l, the thin ward plate 32 and the key abutment plate 26 completely till the apertures 25C between the forward ends of the arms of the yoke 25 and the rear of the yoke 25, and the oli'set portions 311 in the guide plates 3l will have some resiliencya so that all ot said plates will be held within the yoke in tightly assembled condition under slight spring pressure. In assembling the lock therefor, the whole locking structure may be inserted within the chamber in the casing 2l as a single unit.

`When the proper key 23, designed to tit av on the shackle member, as the key is turned the ward notches 23b and 23c will permit the key to be movedrelative to the ward portions inthe ward plates 29 and 32. The shoulders 23d on the key will then strike the portions of the cam levers 33 projecting intothe keyway, whereupon one of the cam levers 33 will be moved upwardly and the other cam lever will be moved downwardly to spread the arms 33a oi the cam levers apart. The said arms 33a will in turn strike the arms of the locking member 2'? and will force the outerends of the arms of the locking member apart, as the key is turned, until the arms no longer project between the shoulders of the shackle member 2A. The shackle member will then be released and may be moved freely through the passage 2T". During the spreading movement of the cam levers 33, the spring tension of the arms or1 the locking member will be opposed to the movement of the arms, and the cam levers 33 i cannot turn during the unlockingaction,r as the arms 33a or each `cam lever will bear against the two sides ot the spring arms of the locking member. After Athe lock has been unlocked., the key 23 may be turned back to its position of insertion.. and withdrawn from the lock, whereupon as the shackle member is moved through the passage 2lC until ythe shoulders of the shackle member are disposed at either side ot the chamber 21a, the arms of the locking member 27 will spring downwardlyr between the shoulders of the shackle member to again lock the same.

It will be seen, during the unlocking action, that the cam levers 33 will be guided by the guide plates 3l and the thin ward plate 32 within the channels between the same, so that the cam levers can only move ina plane at exact right anglesrto the axis about which the key is turned. Accordingly, the shoulders 23d on the shank of the key may be made very narrow in comparison to the ward notches 23b in the key. As there will be no movement of the cam levers .relative to the length of the key when inserted, as the keyis turned, the space taken up on the portion of the key opposing` the thin ward plate 32, and the'cam levers 33, will be very short relative to the length of the shank of the key. As any master key provided for opening the lock would have to include the narrow notches 25C, and the shoulders 23d, it can be seen that it would be very dithcult to make a master key for the lock, unless the exact position ot the thin .ward plate 32, relative tothe abutment plate 26 were knownf' In practice, the notches 23C are made so narrow that they cannot be made with an ordinary key makers lile. Thus, it becomes almost impossible vfor unlicensed parties to open the lock. Due to the tact that the position of t-he thin ward plate 32 and of the cam levers may be varied respective to the abutment plate 2G, and also due to the fact that various combinations ot' llO spacing plates and wide ward plates may be used, it can be seen that almost innumerable different locks can be made by merely assembling the various plates and cam levers in different relations Without varying the construction of the various plates and cam levers in the least. The locks, accordingly, can be put out in a great many ditlerent key combinations very cheaply. Due to the tact that the actual locking structure of the device, as distinguished from the casing and the shackle member, is assembled as a separate unit, the same typek of locking mechanism may be used for practically every diii'erent type of lock, whether padlock, safe lock or door` lock,

' etc.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing lfrom the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A lock comprising a casing havin@V a chamber therein and a passage extending therethrough and through said chamber, a shackle member mounted within said passage for sliding movement therein and having spaced shoulders adapted to extend adjacent said chamber, a locking member mounted in said chamber and havingy a spring arm adapted to normally extend under resilient tension with the sides ot' the arm between the shoulders of said shackle member'to lock the same from movement,.a cam lever mounted in said casing and bearing against said spring spring arm, said cam lever being adapted to be actuated by a key to cause the cam lever to move the arm of the said locking member against the spring tension thereof from between the shoulders of said shackle member, said cam lever being adapted to be mounted in various positions in said casing to vary the key formation without varying the formation of said locking member.

2. The structure defined in claim l, and a plurality of plates mounted in said chamber and having substantially alined ward openings for determining the 'form of key.

3. The structure deiined in claim 1, and a plurality of ward and spacing plates mounted in lsaid chamber and having substantially alined openings therein for determining the formation of ward portions on a key capable of being used in actuating said cam lever, and said spacing plates determining the spacing of the ward portions on the key.

4. The structure defined in claim l, said cam lever being mounted in said casing for only straight movement in a single plane, whereby a key can be used having narrow cam lever actuating portions.

5. A lock comprising a casing having a chamber therein and a passage extending therethrough and through said'chamber, a

shackle disposed in said passage for sliding movement and having shoulders adapted to be placed at the sides of said chamber, a locking `member disposed in said chamber and having a spring arm, the sides of the outer end of which are adapted normally to be held between the shoulders of said shackle by spring tension exerted in a direction substantially normal to the general direction of movement of said shackle through said passage, and a member in said chamber and bearing against said spring arm, said last mentioned member being mounted for only straight movement in a single plane, said chamber having a key opening therein extending at right angles to the plane of movement of said last mentioned member and into which said last mentioned member normally extends, whereby a key may be inserted within said key opening and may be turned to bear against said last mentioned member and cause the same to act against the spring arm of said locking member, to move the spring arm against the tension thereof from between the shoulders of said shackle, said last mentioned member being incapable of longitudinal movement in said key opening as the key is t-urned.

6. A lock comprising a casing having a chamber therein and a passage extending therethrough and through said chamber, a

vshackle member mounted within said passage for sliding movement therein and having spaced shoulders adapted to be placed so that one shoulder extends adjacent each side of said chamber, a U-shaped locking member mounted in said chamber, and having a pair of spring arms adapted to normally extend under resilient tension with the sides thereof between the shoulders of said shackle member to lock the same from movement, a pair of cam levers mounted in said chamber between the arms of said locking member for spreading movement in opposite directions, said casing having a key opening therein into which said cam levers project, whereby a key may be inserted within said key opening and may be turned to spread said cam levers apart to move the arms of said locking member from between the shoulders of said shackle member.

7. A lock comprising a casing having a chamber therein and a passage extending therethrough and through said chamber, a shackle member mounted within said passage for sliding movement therein and having spaced shoulders adapted to be placed adjacent the sides of said chamber, a U-shaped locking member mounted in said chamber and having a pair ofspring arms adapted to normally extend under resilient tension with the sides thereof between the shoulders of said shackle member to lock the same from movement, a thin ward plate disposed in said chamber, a pair of cam levers mounted in said chamber between the arms of said locking member for spreading movement in opposite directions, one of said cam levers abutting one side of said thinvward plate and .the other of said cam levers abuttin,0H the other side of said thin ward plate, there being. a keyopening projecting through said casing and said thin ward plate, said cam levers normally projecting into said key opening whereby a key may be inserted within said key opening and may be turned to spread said cam levers to cause the arms of said locking member to move from between the shoulders of said shackle member.

8. The structure defined in claim 7, and a plurality of thick ward and spacing plates disposed in said chamber and having openings therethrough substantially alined with said key opening, for determining the formation of key that may be used.

9. The structure defined in claim 7, and a pair of guide plates disposed in said chamber, one of which has portions abutting one side of said thin ward plate and the other of which has portions abutting the other side of said thin ward plate, said'guide plates having grooves therein within which said cam levers are mounted for movement, said guide plates and said thin ward plate limiting the movement of said cam levers in all directions except in a plane normal to the axis about which the` key may be turned when inserted within said key opening.

l0. ln a lock assembly, the combination of a U-shaped yoke, the two arms thereof having alined yrectangular apertures therethrough, a llil-shaped spring locking member mounted within -said yoke and also having rectangular apertures through its arms in alinement with the rectangular apertures through the arms of said yoke, a plurality of spacing and ward plates extending through said alined apertures and between the arms of said yoke, said ward and spacing plates having substantially alined key openings therein for determining the shape of a key to be used, a pair of cam levers mounted between certain of said ward and spacing plates and having their outer ends extending between the arms of said locking member, said cam levers having portions partially projectingl into the keyway formed between the said slates and through the key openings therein, whereby a key formed to fit said key openings may be inserted within said keyway and turned to strike said cam levers and spread the same apart, thereby spreading the outer ends of the arms of said locking member.

1l. in a lock construction, a U-shaped yoke, said yoke having rectangular apertures extending through the sides thereof, a U- shaped spring locking member extending between the arms of said yoke and having reetangular apertures through its arms extending from adjacent the forward ends of the arms and centrally and rearwardly through the arms,- anfH-shaped plate, the inner sides of the projecting arms of which abut the outer sides of each of the rear ends of the of said spring locking member to strengthen'the same and prevent distortion thereof, said irl-shaped plate having tabs project-ing' outwardly from its central portion arms thereof, a U-shaped spring locking` member disposed centrally between the arms said U-shaped yoke and having rectangular apertures therein alinedk with the rectangular apertures in said yoke, a plurality of warfl and spacing plates having substantially alined key openings therethrough, said ward and spacing plates being mounted in the rectangular apertures through the arms of said yoke and locking member and estending between the arms of said yoke, said ward and spacing plates largely determining the shape of a key to be used, means with which a key insertible through said key opening is adapted to engage as it is turned to spread the outer ends of the arms of said locking member, and a key abutment plate fitting within the alined apertures through said yoke and locking member adjacent the outer end thereof, extending between the arms of said yoke and having small projections on its outer side abutting the central sides of the outer ends of the arms of said yoke, to hold the same in braced spaced relation.

13. A lock comprising, a easing, having chamber therein and a passage extending therethrough and through said chamber, a shackle slidably mounted within said passage and having spaced shoulders adapte-d to extend adjacent said chamber, a ll-shaped resilient locking member mounted within said chamber and having arms adapted to normally extend under resilient tension with the sides thereof between the shoulders of said shackle to lock the same from movement, a plurality of thick plates disposed within said chamber and having ward openings for determining the form of key to be used, a narrow ward plate having a ward opening therein through which the key must iit, a pair of thin cam levers having arms disposed between the arms of said locking member and disposed in said chamber so that one cam lever abuts each side of said thin ward plate, said levers being so mounted for movement that they Will be spread apart by a key of such form that it Will t Within the Ward openings of said thick plates and said narrow plate for turning movement in respect thereto to move the arms of said locking member from between the shoulders of said shackle member.

"In testimony whereof I afX my signature.

GEORGE H. STERLING. 

